(J 



REMARKS 

ON A 

"REPRINT OF THE ORIGINAL LETTERS 



WASHINGTON TO JOSEPH EEED, 



THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 



REFERRED TO 



IN THE PAMPHLETS OF LORD MAHON AND MR. SPARKS." 



Bv JARED SPARKS. ^^^M^^o, 






BOSTON: 

LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. 

1853. 






CAMBRIDGE: 
METCALF AND COMPANY, PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. 



REMARKS. 



So much has ah-eady been written concerning 
the manner in which certain portions of "Wash- 
ington's Writings " were edited, that perhaps those, 
who have bestowed attention upon the subject, may 
think nothing more is necessary to enable them to 
form a proper judgment of the case. I have no 
disposition to protract the controversy by reviving 
discussions, that may seem to have been exhausted. 
In my " Reply to the Strictures of Lord Mahon and 
Others," and in a subsequent " Letter to Lord Ma- 
hon," it has been my aim to state facts without dis- 
guise, to explain the principles by which I have 
been guided, and to vindicate myself from errone- 
ous charges and injurious suspicions, without cen- 
suring the opinions entertained by others on the 
general points at issue, or attempting to establish 
my own by arguments. 

The task of an editor in preparing for the press 



confidential letters, which the writer never intended 
should meet the public eye, is delicate and difficult. 
I felt the full difficulty of this task in regard to a 
few of Washington's letters. In fact, it was a ques- 
tion of serious import, apd requiring much delib- 
eration, whether such letters should be published 
at all. I had no doubt, however, at the time, nor 
have I any now, that, if they were to be published, 
it was the editor's duty to revise them with care, 
and to make such corrections as his judgment and 
feeling of responsibility should dictate. That this 
duty was performed in the best manner it could have 
been done, I shall be the last to affirm. Whether 
I was too scrupulous or too precise in some in- 
stances, or negligent and inconsiderate in others, 
may safely be left to the decision of those, who are 
willing to examine with calmness, and judge with 
candor. I claim only to have been actuated by dis- 
interested motives, and to have followed my unbi- 
assed convictions. Moreover, the subject in its de- 
tails is one, upon which almost any two minds, 
viewing it under different aspects, may be led to 
form conflicting opinions. 

But all the particulars touching this point, the 
rules which I adopted, and the reasons for them, 
are so largely explained in the introductory parts 
of the work, and in the more recent discussions, 
that I shall forbear to add any thing further on 
this occasion. 



My present purpose relates to a different topic. 
It is well known that the animadversions of the 
critics, who have found so much to censure in my 
editorial decisions, have been directed chiefly to 
some ten or twelve private letters from Washing- 
ton to Joseph Reed, written in the first year of the 
war. These letters were strictly confidential ; no 
copy of any of them was retained by Washington ; 
nor did he preserve the answers. In " Washing- 
ton's Writings" these letters were printed from 
copies of the originals, which latter were furnished 
to me by their possessor, Mr. William B. Reed, 
who afterwards printed them in his " Life of Jo- 
seph Reed." It was discovered that occasional dis- 
crepances existed between the two printed texts ; 
and these are the materials which have afforded so 
fruitful a theme for the ingenious and severe com- 
ments of the critics. 

Mr. Reed has lately reprinted these letters in a 
separate volume, placing the variations side by side, 
in parallel columns. In pursuing this course, as 
he informs the reader, he has been " actuated by a 
sense of duty to all parties," and a desire to ren- 
der justice to Lord Mahon, to himself, and to me. 
If an act of injustice had been committed, however 
inadvertently or from whatever cause, it was cer- 
tainly right that every ground of complaint on this 
score should be removed. Alluding to his former 



work, Mr. Reed says, " I printed the Washington 
letters from the originals, the only variations being 
occasional corrections of grammar and spelling, and 
the omission of one or two sentences, evidently the 
result of oversight on my part." Yet he adds in 
another place, " At the time of their publication 
I had no doubt that it was my duty to print them 
exactly as they were written." It happened, how- 
ever, as indicated by himself in this reprint, that 
there were frequent variations from the originals in 
his printed text, occasioned either by " corrections 
of grammar and spelling," or by accidental mis- 
takes. 

The remarkable omission, by which Lord Ma- 
hon and other writers were led to prefer against 
me the heavy and unjust charge of making addi- 
tions to Washington's text, was, in its consequen- 
ces, the most important of these mistakes.* An- 
other, not less important in itself, and scarcely less 
so in regard to the animadversions of which it was 
the cause, remained a mystery till it was explained 
by this reprint. Washington, giving a reason why 



* Washington had written, "Is it possible that any sensible nation 
upon earth can be imposed upon by such a cobweb scheme, or gauze cov- 
ering ? " And it thus appeared in " Washington's Writings." But by 
some accident the passage in italics was omitted in Mr. Reed's text ; 
and hence it was inferred that this passage had been " manufactured " 
by me. 



he had been prevented from showing all the civil- 
ities he desired to show to gentlemen in Massachu- 
setts while his head-quarters were at Cambridge, 
adds, as printed by me, " If this has given rise to 
the jealousy, I can only say that I am sorry for it." 
In Mr. Eeed's text it was printed, "I can not say 
that I am sorry for it." As it was taken for grant- 
ed by the critics, that Mr. Eeed's text was right, 
and mine wrong, they urged with no little acrimo- 
ny, that I had changed the language and perverted 
the sense, making Washington express a sentiment 
on a delicate point directly opposite to the one he 
intended; and it was ominously inferred, that, if I 
would take such a liberty in one case, I might do 
the same anywhere and everywhere, from the begin- 
ning to the end of the work. It turns out, how- 
ever, that I had printed the words correctly. 

These mistakes in Mr. Reed's text were unques- 
tionably the result of accident, and it would have 
been kind in him, if, the moment he saw the com- 
ments upon them in the public journals, he had 
communicated through the same channels a few 
words of explanation, especially as he was the only 
person who had the means of doing it, and as the 
misapprehension had arisen from inadvertences of 
his own. This would have saved Lord Mahon from 
the error of making, and the awkwardness of re- 
tracting, an unfounded charge ; it would have saved 



8 



me from much obloquy, which flowed from the pens 
of writers, who seemed not reluctant to seize such 
an opportunity for the exercise of their critical sa- 
gacity, and for expressing their indignant astonish- 
ment; it would have saved the public from misap- 
prehensions and false suspicions. 

Another error in Mr. Reed's text, now first cor- 
rected in this reprint, likewise exposed me to cen- 
sure. "Washington had written, on a certain occa- 
sion, that he did not consider it " expedient to coun- 
termand the raising of the Connecticut regiments on 
account of the pay," and it was so printed by me. 
in Mr. Reed's work the word Continental appeared 
instead of Connecticut, and it was again inferred 
that I had deliberately perverted the truth of his- 
tory by assigning to the Connecticut troops what 
was intended to be applied to those of the Conti-* 
nental army. 

Again, few themes, of so little significance, have 
been more amply discussed than the phrase " Old 
Put," used in one of Washington's letters. It here 
comes forward under an aspect somewhat new. Mr; 
Reed says, " It is printed ' Old Put ' in my book, 
as a quotation. Hence it has been assumed that 
Washington so used it. On reference, now, how- 
ever, to the original, I find it written without thei 
quotation marks." As Mr. Reed's text was relied 
on, the assumption of its accuracy was not unnat- 



ural. It happens, however, that the error on his 
part is of very little moment in its bearing on the 
question, since the letter to which Washington was 
writing an answer contained the phrase, and he 
evidently adopted it from that source. This con- 
viction at the time may have induced Mr. Reed to 
add the quotation marks, or they may have crept 
in by some accident. 

But enough has heretofore been said respecting 
the letters of this class ; that is, the letters of which 
Mr. Reed possesses the originals, and of which 
"Washington retained no copies. My present object 
is mainly to notice another class of letters ; those 
to Joseph Reed printed by me from the Letter- 
Books. 

Mr. Reed observes, " I have thought it best to 
reprint every one of the letters, which have been, 
selected by Mr Sparks, even when he copied, not 
from the originals, but from the Letter-Books, in 
order to show, as a mere matter of literary curi- 
osity, how far they differ." Here Mr. Reed mis- 
takes in saying that he has reprinted " every one " 
of the letters copied by me from the Letter-Books. 
In reality he has taken but about half of them. 
The whole number derived from that source is more 
than twenty. He reprints only ten as having been 
compared with the copies in the Letter-Books. 

His method is to divide the page into two par- 
2 



10 



allel columns, printing in one of them the text of 
the original letter, and placing in the other the 
variations exhibited by the same letter as printed 
in "Washington's Writings." "In this way," he 
says, " an accurate judgment may be formed of the 
real extent of the alterations." If he had written 
variations instead of alterations, this statement would 
have been more accurate, but even then, as applied 
to this class of letters, it would have led to a de- 
ceptive conclusion. By the way in which the texts 
are compared, it is left to be inferred that every 
change from the originals as printed by Mr. Reed 
has been made by me. The initial of my name is 
prefixed to each separate variation, whether con- 
sisting of a single word or more. As the matter 
stands, no reader would suspect that any of these 
variations are to be ascribed to the differences be- 
tween the originals and the copies in the Letter- 
Books, from which the text in " Washington's Writ- 
ings " was printed ; or, if such a suspicion should 
arise, the reader would have no means of deciding 
which particular variations are chargeable to the 
Letter-Books, and which to me. 

I cannot but regard this mode of comparison, 
however well intended, as exhibiting the case under 
a deceptive aspect, and as placing to my account 
numerous alterations for which I am in no degree 
responsible, and which are plainly nothing more 



11 



nor less than discrepances between the originals 
and the Letter-Books. It is true, in the instance 
of a single letter (December 12th, 1778), Mr. Eeed 
says in a note, " The text of the original and the 
Letter-Book certainly do not agree literally " ; but 
he does not furnish the reader with any guide by 
which the disagreements can be detected ; and each 
one is marked by the initial of my name, although 
sixteen in that particular letter are chargeable to 
the Letter-Book, and not to any editorial discretion 
or indiscretion on my part. 

Under these circumstances, I have felt it to be a 
duty, not as " a matter of literary curiosity," but as 
an act of justice to myself, to revise this branch of 
the subject, and endeavor to place it in a light by 
which the facts of the case may be more clearly 
perceived and understood. I have accordingly taken 
pains to procure exact transcripts from the Letter- 
Books, and to compare them with Mr. Reed's re- 
print from the originals, for the purpose of ascer- 
taining in what particulars they differ. To these I 
propose to call the reader's attention. 

Speaking of omissions, Mr. Reed says, " The only 
safe rule seems to be that which was adopted by 
Chief Justice Marshall long ago. I have before 
me an unpublished letter from him to the printer 
of his Life of Washington in 1804, in answer to 
an urgent request for the suppression of a passage 



12 



calculated to give pain to living persons. The re- 
quest was assented to, but explicit direction given 
to mark the fact that a passage was omitted." 

Whatever direction he may have given to the 
printer, as to this particular passage, it would be 
difficult to find a mark indicating the omission ; 
and still more difficult to prove, that, in practice, 
he adopted any such rule as the one here men- 
tioned. All the evidence would tend to establish 
the contrary. In his work are many selections 
from Washington's letters, some of them of con- 
siderable length, and in the midst of them are fre- 
quent omissions of paragraphs and sentences. In 
no instance, it is believed, can any mark or other 
indication be discovered, which intimates an omis- 
sion. I shall produce a few examples illustrative 
of this fact ; and also a few others, showing the 
kind of editorial revision which Judge Marshall 
bestowed upon the manuscript selections in pre- 
paring them for the press. 

In the first place, I shall present the parallel 
passages in which discrepances occur between Mr. 
Reed's originals and the same letters as recorded 
in the Letter-Books. It is here to be observed, 
that all the passages from the Letter-Books accord 
with the text printed by me in "Washington's 
AVritings," except the variations mentioned in the 
notes. 



13 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books. 



Having no idea of its being 
a private letter, much less 
suspecting the tendency of 
the correspondence, I opened 
it, as I had done all letters 
to you from the same place 
and Pee¥s Sill, upon the 
business of your office — 

— sincerely wish your la- 
bors may be crowned with the 
desired success.* 



NovEMBEK 30th, 1776. 

Having no idea of its being 
a private letter, much less 
suspecting the tendency of 
the correspondence, I opened 
it, as I had done all other 
letters to you from the same 
place and PeeJcskill, upon the 
business of your office — 

— sincerely wish ,that your 
labors may be crowned with 
the desired success. 



There is another considera- 
tion with me. Congress per- 
haps at this instant are delib- 
erating on an answer to give 
the Commissioners to an ad- 
dress they have received from 
them. Should a letter there- 
fore fro7n a member, (in which 
light you will he considered) 
hold out sentiments diffei-ent 
from theirs, an unfavorable 
use will doubtless be made of 
it. 



June 15th, 1778. 

There is another considera- 
tion tvhich iveighs with me. 
Congress, at this instant per- 
haps, are deliberating on an 
answer to give the Commis- 
sioners to the address which 
they have received from them. 
Should gour letter, therefore, 
(considered as coming from a 
member') contain sentiments 
repugnant to theirs, an unfa- 
vorable use, more than prob- 
ably, will be made of it.f 



* This letter Mr. Reed " prints from the Letter-Book." In two short 
sentences there are three errors, being two omissions, and a wrong 
name of a place, which latter is important ; thus showing the diffi- 
culty of securing verbal accuracy in printing from copies of manu- 
scripts, even when the attention is directed to that point alone. 

t The above is an exact transcript from the Letter-Book, and is pre- 
cisely as printed by me, except the following transposition. The words, 
"are deliberating on an answer to give the Commissioners to the ad- 



14 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed, Text of the Letter-Books. 



— for he was instructed to 
collect — 

I have ordered an mquiry 
into his conduct on this occa- 
sion. 

— the infamous practice of 
forestalling, and the engross- 
ing such articles — 

— which by these practices 
comes to it thro'' the hands of 
these people — 

— by accumulating the 
quantum necessary for ordi- 
nary purposes to an enormous 
sum — 

— we are not to expect 
that the path ivill he strewed 
with flowers — 

As my letter to Congress 
of this date has carried a full 
account of the cantonment of 
the troops, and other matters 
of public concernment, I have 
no need to repeat them to you 
as an individual member. 

— the committee of ar- 
rangement will perfect the 



November 27th 1778* 

— as he was instructed to 
collect — 

I have ordered an inquiry 
into his conduct on that occa- 
sion. 

— the infamous practice 
of forestalling and engrossing 
such articles — 

— which by this means 
come to it through the hands 
of these people — 

— by accumulating the 
quantum necessary for ordi- 
nary purposes to an amazing 
sum — 

— we are not to expect that 
the path is to be strewed with 
flowers — 

As my letter to Congress 
of this date has given a full 
account of the cantonment of 
the troops and other matters 
of public concernment, I have 
no need to repeat it to you as 
an individual member. 

— the committee of ar- 
rangement will perfect the 



dress which they have received from them," are printed thus ; " are 
deliberating on an answer to the address, which they have received 
from the Commissioners." Mr. Reed says this letter " is not in the 
Letter-Books"; but in this he is mistaken. It may be found there, 
recorded in its appropriate place. 

* Here again Mr. Reed mistakes in saying that " this letter is not 
recorded in the Letter-Books." 



15 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books, 

good work they begun in the good work they began in the 

summer — summer — 

— with sincere regard and — with sincere esteem and 

affection — affection — 



What did or could prompt 
the Knight to this expedition 
is beyond the reach of my con- 
ception, considering the un- 
seasonableness of it. 

— not conceiving that he 
could miss it so much in point 
of intelligence as to mistime 
matters so egregiously, if ei- 
ther of the otlier two was his 
object — 

— could not help being un- 
easy lest some disaster might 
befall them — 

— posted back from Eliza- 
bethtown on the morning of 
the 5th, and got within twelve 
or fifteen miles of King's Fer- 
ry, when I was met by an 
express informing me that the 
enemy had landed at that 
place, set fire to two small 
log'd houses, destroyed nine 
barrels of spoiled herrings, 
and had set sail for Neiv 
York. 



December 12th, 1778. 
What did or could prompt 
the Knight to this expedition, 
/ am at a loss to discover, 
considering the unseasonable- 
ness of it. 

— not conceiving that he 
could be so much out in point 
of intelligence as to mistime 
matters so egregiously, if ei- 
ther of the two first was his 
object — 

— could not help being un- 
easy lest disaster might hajj- 
pen — 

— posted back from Eliza- 
bethtown at four o^clock on 
the morning of the 5th, and 
got within twelve or fifteen 
miles of King's Ferry, when 
I was met by an express in- 
forming me that the enemy 
had landed at that place, 
burned two or three logged 
houses with nine barrels of 
spoilt herrings, and had re- 
embarked and sailed for New 
York again* 



* In connection with this passage Mr. Reed observes, that " Mr. 
Sparks in his first pamphlet expresses some doubt as to the accuracy of 



16 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books. 



— and will be led naturally 
to conclude that bold and con- 
fident assertions, uncontradict- 
ed, must be founded in truth. 

— but however convenient 
it may have been for his ])ur- 
pose to establish this doc- 
trine — 

— I will defy any person 
out of my own family to say, 
that I have ever mentioned 
his name after his trial com- 
menced, if it was to be avoided ; 
and when it was not, if I have 
not studiously declined — 

— as I never entertained 
any jealousy of, or apprehen- 
sion from him, so neither did 
I ever do more than common 
civility — 

— but the afiairs of the 
army requires a constant at- 
tention and presence, and cir- 
cumstanced as matters are at 
this juncture — 

— as peace and retirement 
are my ultimate aim, and the 



— and will be led naturally 
to believe that bold and con- 
fident assertions, uncontradict- 
ed, must be founded in truth. 

— but however convenient 
it may have been for his pur- 
poses to establish this belief — 

— I will defy any person 
out of my own family to say, 
that I have ever mentioned 
his name, if it was to be 
avoided ; and, when not, that 
I have not studiously de- 
clined — 

— as I never entertained 
any jealousy of, or apprehend- 
ed from * him, so neither did 
I ever do more than common 
civility — 

— but the affairs of the 
army require my constant at- 
tention and presence, and cir- 
cumstanced as matters are at 
this time — 

— as peace and retirement 
are my ultimate aim, and the 



my text." I did not intend to express any doubt. I said only, that 
"logged" in the Letter-Book was written " log'd " in his manuscript. 
The printers dropped the last syllable, and made it log houses, perhaps 
for the same reason that they print brick or stone houses, instead of 
bricked or stoned houses. 

* This phrase was omitted by me, doubtless because a blunder of 
the transcriber left it without meaning in the Letter-Book. Mr. Reed's 
copy makes the sense clear. 



17 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. 

most pleasing and flattering 
wish of mj soul — 

— will reconcile any place 
and all circumstances to my 
feelings, whilst I remain in 
service. 



— as the season is now ap- 
proaching when either nego- 
tiation or vigorous exertions 
must take place ; and Gen- 
eral Clinton doubtless will, in 
the latter case — 

— the sole purpose of this 
letter is to suggest to your 
consideration — 

— for giving an alarm to 
the militia of the country, and 
for fixing places of rendez- 
vous for them, that in cases 
of sudden emergency they 
may he quickly assembled^ 
free from tumult — 

— the preparations for it 
will be hid under the darkest 
veil — 



— any apprehensions I may 
entertain on this delicate sub- 
ject unfounded — happy to find 
it your opinion — 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

most pleasing and flattering 
hojje of my soul — 

— will reconcile any place 
and all circumstances to my 
feelings, whilst I continue in 
service. 

March 28th, 1779.* 

— as the season is now fast 
approaching when either ne- 
gotiation or vigorous exertions 
must take place of inactivity ; 
and as General Clinton doubt- 
less will, in the latter case — 

— the sole purpose of this 
letter is to suggest for your 
consideration — 

— for giving an alarm to 
the militia of the country, and 
for fixing on places of ren- 
dezvous for them, that in pases 
of sudden emergency they 
may quickly assemble, free 
from tumult — 

— the preparations for it 
will be held under the darkest 
veil — 

Mat 8th, 1779. 

— any apprehensions I may 
entertain on this delicate sub- 
ject ill founded — happy to find 
it is your opinion — 



* Mr. Reed is again mistaken when he says, 
is not in the Letter-Book." 

3 



" This letter, I believe, 



18 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. 

— fixing the trial at that 
day week ; you will he pleased 
to have delivered to him — 



— carries an alloy which no 
temper can bear with perfect 
composure. The motives, which 
actuate this gentleman are bet- 
ter understood by himself than 
me. 

Whether these, or motives 
yet TTwre dark and hidden, gov- 
ern him — 

— I should have thought 
myself a proper object for the 
lash, not only of his, but the 
pen of every other writer, and 
a fit subject of public resent- 
ment. 

— but little better than a 
mere chaos — 

— that a plain narrative of 
facts — 

If this gentleman is envious 
of my station, and conceives 
that I stand in his way — 

— recruits from the state 
of Massachusetts — 

— Discouraging as all this 
is — 

— Providence having so of- 
ten taken us up when bereft 
of other hope — 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

— fixing the trial at that 
day ; which you will he pleased 
to cause to be delivered to 
him — 

JuLT 29th, 1779. 

— carries an alloy which 
no mind can bear with perfect 
composure. The motives, which 
actuate this gentleman, can he 
better accounted for hj himself 
than me. 

Whether these, or motives 
still m,ore hidden and dark, 
govern him — 

— I should have thought 
myself a proper subject for the 
lash, not only of his, but the 
pen of every other Avriter, and 
a fit object for public resent- 
ment. 

— but little more than a 
mere chaos — 

— that a plain and simple 
narrative of facts — 

If this gentleman is envious 
of my station, and thinks I 
stand in his way — 

— recruits from the state 
of Massachusetts Bay — 

— discouraging as this 
is — 

— Providence having so of- 
ten taken us up when bereft 
of every other hope — 



19 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. 

— till the effect of the pres- 
ent exertions of Cr. B.j this 
campaign, is known, tvhen,pos- 
sibli/j a jiew scene may open. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

— till the effect of the pres- 
ent exertions of Great Britain^ 
this campaign, is known, and 
some new scene opened to our 
view. 



But this concern received 
additional poignancy from two 
considerations, which were hut 
little known, and one of them 
never will be known to the 
"world, because I shall never 
attempt to palliate my own foi- 
bles by exposing the error of 
another, — 

The other was a Resolve 
of Congress in the emphatic 
words, — 

When I came to Fort Lee, 
and found no measures taken 
for an evacuation — 

— when I found other opin- 
ions coinciding with his — 

— I conceived that every 
impediment which stood in 
their way — 

— when thrown into the 
scale of those opinions — 

— the pen of a malignant 
writer, who is always less re- 
gardful of facts — 

— where concealment of a 
few circumstances will answer 
his purpose, or where a small 



August 22d, 1779. 

But this concern received 
additional poignancy from two 
considerations, which did not 
appear; one of which never 
will be known to the world, 
because I shall never paUiate 
my own faults by exposing 
those of another, — 

The other was a Resolve of 
Congress, in the strong and 
emphatical words folloiving, — 

When I came to Fort Lee, 
and found no measures taken 
towards an evacuation — 

— when I found other opin- 
ions so coincident with his — 

— I conceived that every 
impediment that stood in their 
way — 

— when thrown into the 
scale with those opinions — 

— the pen of a malignant 
writer, who is less regardful of 
facts — 

— where concealment of a 
few circumstances answers his 
purposes, or where a small 



20 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books. 



transposition of them will give 
a very different complexion to 
the same transaction. 

— but abundant reason to 
confirm me in it. 

— our money would have 
been upon a very different es- 
tablishment in point of credit 
to what it is at tJds day — 

Such men as compose the 
bulk of an army are in a dif- 
ferent train of thinking and 
acting to what they were in 
the early stages of the war, 
and nothing is now left for it 
but an annual and systemati- 
cal mode of drafting, — 

— it will come to this, for 
there are people enow, old sol- 
diers — 

— the difference will be, 
that instead of the public's 
emitting or borrowing money 
to pay their bounties (which is 
enlarged greatly qvqyj new 
enlistment), these sums will 
be paid by individuals — 

— raise the value of it by 
multiplying the means of its 
use — 

— weakened by intestine di- 
visions have energy enough to 



transposition of them will give 
a very different complexion to 
the same thing. 

— but abundant reason to 
confirm it. 

— our money would have 
been upon a very different es- 
tablishment in point of credit 
to* ivhat it noiv is — 

Such men as compose the 
bulk of an army are in a dif- 
ferent train of thinking to * 
what they were in those early 
stages of the war, and nothing 
is now left but an annual and 
systematical mode of draft- 
ing, — 

— it will come to this, for 
there are people now, old sol- 
diers — 

— the difference will be, 
that in lieu of the public's 
emitting or borrowing money 
to pay the bounties, which in- 
crease rapidly every new en- 
listment, these bounties will be 
paid by individuals — 

— raise the value of it by 
multiplying the means for us- 
ing it — 

— weakened by infernal di- 
visions have energy enough to 



* In these places to was printed from, probably as a grammatical cor- 
rection. 



21 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books. 



carry statutes of this nature 
into execution — 

— it cannot in my opinion 
he justified upon any principle 
of common policy — 

— appears substantial jus- 
tice to the public, and each in- 
dividual — 



— to what they esteemed 
their rights — 

— influence the conduct of 
by far the greatest part — 

— yet the ties are not suf- 
ficiently strong to induce their 
submission — 

— depreciation of money 
on one hand — 

— I wish you to be con- 
vinced, that I do not want in- 
clination to comply where I 
can dx) it consistently with any 
of your wishes. 



— different from that which 
for a long time prevailed — 



carry statutes of this hind into 
execution — 

— it cannot in my opinion 
stand justified upon any prin- 
ciples of common policy — 

— appears substantial jus- 
tice to the public, and to indi- 
viduals — 

October 22d, 1779. 

— to what they esteem their 
rights — 

— influence the conduct of 
by far the greater part — 

— yet the ties are not * 
strong to induce their submis- 
sion — 

— depreciation of money on 
the one hand — 

— I wish you to be con- 
vinced, that I do not want in- 
clination to comply with your 
wishes in any instance that-f 
is within the reach of my pow- 
er consistently to aid them. 

May 28th, 1780. 

— different from that which 
has for a long time prevailed — 



* Here was evidently an omission in the text of the Letter-Book. 
To complete the sense, the passage was printed — "are not so strono- 
as to induce," — a sense borne out by the original. 

t The word that was printed when it, probably by design, as the sen- 
tence in its present construction is obscure, and scarcely grammatical. 
That this was perceived by Washington himself is evident from the 
change he made in the copy which he sent to General Reed, as here 
printed. 



22 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. Text of the Letter-Books. 



— you would be convinced 
that these expressions are not 
too strong, and that we have 
almost ceased to hope. 

— in such a state of insen- 
sibility to its interest-, that I 
dare not flatter myself — 

— from every account I 
have been able to collect will 
be very inconsiderable — 

The abilities of her present 
financier has done wonders. 

Commerce and industry are 
the best means of a nation. 

If we do our duty, we may 
even hope to make the cam- 
paign decisive on this conti- 
nent. 



— you would be convinced 
that these expressions are not 
too strong, and that we have 
every thing to dread. Indeed^ 
I have almost ceased to hope. 

~ in such a state of insen- 
sibility to its interests, that I 
dare not flatter myself — 

— from every account I 
have been able to collect will 
be inconsiderable — 

The abilities of her present 
financier have done wonders. 

Commerce and industry are 
the best m,ines of a nation. 

If we do our duty, we may 
even hope to make the cam- 
paign decisive of this conti- 
nent.* 



"When any great object ig 
in view, the popular mind is 
roused into expectation and 
prepared to make sacrifices 
both of ease and property ; if 
those to whom they confide the 
management of their affairs do 



July 4th, 1780. 

When any great object is 
in view, the popular mind is 
roused into expectation and 
prepared to make sacrifices 
both of ease and property ; if 
those to whom the f confide the 
management of their affairs do 



* Printed, " decisive of this contest," possibly by an error of the tran- 
scriber, but probably by design, as the phrase "decisive of" does not 
here suit the vi^ord "continent." Mr. Reed's text is apparently more 
correct. 

■j- It is obvious that some word is here omitted in the Letter-Book. 
The vacancy was filled by " people," which the sense clearly requires. 
" They," in the other text, has no appropriate antecedent. 



23 



Text as printed by Mr. Reed. 

not call them to make these 
sacrifices — 

I am of a very difierent sen- 
timent. 



That overruling Providence 
•which has so often and so re- 
markably interposed in our 
favor, never manifested itself 
more conspicuously than in the 
timely discovery of his horrid 
intention to swrender the Post 
and Garrison of West Point 
into the hands of the enemy. 

— the command of that 
Post — 

— for which he vras appoint- 
ed, seems to have made — 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

not call them to make these 
sacrifices — 

I am of very difierent senti- 
ment* 

October 18th, 1780.t 

That overruling Providence, 
which has so often and so re- 
markably interposed in our 
favor, never manifested itself 
more conspicuously than in the 
timely discovery of his horrid 
design of surrendering the Post 
and Garrison of West Point 
into the hands of the enemy. 

— the command of the 
Post — 

— for which he was appoint- 
ed, seem to have made — 



In the above examples, all the variations from 
Mr. Reed's copy exist in the Letter-Books, from 
which the text in " AVashington's Writings" was 
printed ; and, I repeat, they agree with that text 
except in the instances here specified in the notes. 
I am not answerable, therefore, for these variations. 
On the contrary, I had no copy to follow or con- 
sult but the one recorded in the Letter-Books. 

There are a few other variations, and for these 



* Printed " sentiments." 

f Mr. Reed is mistaken in supposing that this letter " is not in the 
Letter-Books." 



24 



I am willing to be responsible, because they were 
made under a full conviction of their propriety ; 
but they rarely extend beyond a single word or 
phrase, and are for the most part grammatical cor- 
rections ; such as altering the singular number to 
the plural, or the contrary, when the construction 
required it, the insertion of a particle or a rela- 
tive pronoun, the change of one preposition for an- 
other, or of an adjective to an adverb, and the like. 
Special care was also taken to print all the proper 
names correctly, however they may have been writ- 
ten ; and this was not so easy a task as might at 
first be imagined. Nor should it be overlooked, 
that the variations, whatever may have been their 
origin, are in the words, and not in the substance. 
The sense of the writer, as to any point he is aim- 
ing to present, is clearly the same in the different 
texts. 

As Chief Justice Marshall's testimony has been 
appealed to, with reference to this subject, it may 
not be out of place here to add a few examples 
illustrative of the method followed by him in edit- 
ing the selections, which he made from Washing- 
ton's letters. Mr. Reed thinks he adopted a rule 
by which he indicated to the reader the omission 
of a passage, whenever it happened, by some mark. 
I have not been able to discover any indications 



25 



of this kind in his " Life of Washington," although 
omissions frequently occur. The following selec- 
tions are taken at random from various parts of the 
work. The passages in italics are supplied from 
the Letter-Books, and they were omitted by him 
without any mark denoting the fact. I believe the 
same will be found true in all other cases, so that, 
if he had any rule at all, it must have been not to 
mark the places where passages were left out. 

LETTER TO GENERAL SCHUYLER. 

July 15th, 1777. 
" The evacuation of Tieonderoga and Mount Independence 
is an event of chagrin and surprise, not apprehended nor 
within the compass of my reasoning. I know not u^jon what 
2)ri7iciple it was founded, and I should suppose it still more 
difficult to reconcile, if the garrison amounted to five thou- 
sand men, in high spirits, healthy, well sujyplied with pro- 
vision and ammunitio7i, and the Eastern militia marching to 
their succor, as you mentio7i in your letter of the 9th to 
the Council of Safety of Netv York. This stroke is severe 
indeed, and has distressed us much. But, notwithstanding 
things at present wear a dark and gloomy aspect, I hope a 
spirited opposition will check the progress of General Bur- 
goyne's arms, and that the confidence derived from success 
will hurry him into measures, that will in their consequences 
be favorable to us. We should never despair. Our situa- 
tion has before been unpromising, and has changed for the 
better. So, I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, 
we must only put forth new exertions, and proportion our 
efforts to the exigency of the times." — Vol. III. p. 254. 
4 



2() 



LETTER TO CONGRESS. 

August 20th, 1780. 

'• It Avill be an interesting Avinter. Many circumstances 
■will contribute to a negotiation. An army on foot, not only 
for another campaign, but for several campaigns, would de- 
termine the enemy to pacific measures, and enable us to in- 
sist upon favorable terms in forcible language. An army 
insignificant in numbers, dissatisfied, crumbling to pieces, 
would be the strongest temptation they could have to try 
the experiment a little longer. It is an old maxim, that the 
surest way to make a good peace is to be well prepared for 
war. 

" I am inclined to liope a draft for the war, or for three 
years, ivould succeed. Many incentives of immediate interest 
may be held up to the people to induce them to submit to it. 
They must begin to consider the repeated bounties they are 
obliged to pay as a burthen, and be willing to get rid of 
it by sacrificing a little more once for all. Indeed, it is prob- 
able the bounties may not be much greater in that case than 
they have been. The people of the States near the seat of 
war ought to enter into such a plan with alacrity, as it 
would ease them' in a variety of respects ; among others, by 
obviating the frequent calls upon the militia. 

" I cannot forbear returning in this place to the necessity 
of a more ample and equal provision for the army. The dis- 
contents on this head have been gradually matured to a dan- 
gerous extremity. There are many symptoms that alarm and 
distress me. Endeavors are using to unite both officers and 
men in a general refusal of the money, and some corps now 
actually decline receiving it. Every method has been taken 
to counteract it, because such a combination in the array 
would be a severe blow to our declining currency. The most 
moderate insist that the accounts of depreciation ought to be 
liquidated at stated periods, and certificates given by gov- 
ernment for the sums due. They will not be satisfied with a 
general declaration that it shall be made good. 



27 



" This is one instance of complaint. There are others 
equally/ serious. Among the most serious is the inequality/ of 
the provision made hy the several States. Pennsylvania main- 
tains her officers in a decent manner; she has giveri them 
half-pay for life. What a wide difference between their sit- 
uation and that of the officers of every other line in this 
army, some of whom are actually so destitute of clothing as 
to he unfit for duty, and obliged for that cause only to con- 
fine themselves to quarters. I have often said, and I beg 
leave to repeat it, the half-pay provision is in my opinion the 
most politic and effectual that can be adopted. On the whole, 
if something satisfactory be not done, the army (already so 
much reduced in officers by daily resignations, as not to have 
a sufficiency to do the common duties of it) must either cease 
to exist at the end of the campaign, or it will exhibit an ex- 
ample of more virtue, fortitude, self-denial, and perseverance, 
than has perhaps ever yet been paralleled in the history of 
human enthusiasm." — Vol. IV. p. 298. 



LETTER TO (JENERAL LINCOLN. 

October 2d, 1782. 

"■ I repeat it, when I reflect on these irritable circumstan- 
ces, unattended by one thing to soothe their feelings, or 
brighten the gloomy prospect, I cannot avoid apprehending 
that a train of evils will follow, of a very serious and dis- 
tressing nature. On the other hand, could the officers be 
placed in as good a situation, as when they came into ser- 
vice, the contention, I am pjersuaded, woidd be, not ivho should 
continue in the field, but who should retire to private life. 

" I wish not to heighten the shades of the picture so far as 
the real life would justify me in doing, or I would give anec- 
dotes of patriotism and distress which have scarcely ever been 
paralleled, never surpassed in the history of mankind. But, 
you may rely upon it, the patience and long suffiirance of 
this army are almost exhausted, and there never was so great 
a spirit of discontent as at this instant.'* — Vol. IV. p. 580. 



28 



LETTER TO HENRY LEE. 

September 22, 1788. 

" It was for a long time doubtful whether we were to survive 
as an independent republic, or decline from our federal dig- 
nity into insignificant and wretched fragments of empire. The 
adoption of the constitution so extensively, and with so lib- 
eral an acquiescence on the part of the minorities in general, 
promised the former ; but lately, the circular letter of New 
York has manifested, in my apprehension, an unfavorable, if 
not an insidious tendency to a contrary policy. I still hope for 
the best ; but before you mentioned it, I could not help fear- 
ing it would serve as a standard to which the disaifected 
might resort. It is now evidently the part of all honest men, 
who are friends to the new constitution, to endeavour to give 
it a chance to disclose its merits and defects by carrying it 
fairly into effect, in the first instance. For it is to he apiyre- 
herided^ that hy an attempt to ohtaiji amendmeyits before the 
experiment has been candidly made, ' more is meant than meets 
the ear,'' that an intention is concealed, to accomplish slily, 
what could not have been done openly, to undo all that has 
been done. If the fact so exists, that a kind of combination is 
forming to stifle the government in embryo, it is a happy cir- 
cumstance that the design has become suspected. Pi-eparations 
should be the sure attendant upon forewarning. Probably, 
prudence, wisdom, and patriotism ivere never more essentially 
necessary than at the present moment : and so far as it can 
be done in an irreproachably direct manner, no effort ought to 
be left unassayed to procure the election of the best possible 
characters to the new Congress. On their harmony, delibera- 
tion, and decision every thing will depend. I heartily ivish Mr. 
Madison tvas in our Assembly ; as I think, with you, it is of 
unspeakable importance Virginia should set out in her federal 
measures under right auspices. 

" The principal topic of your letter Is to me a point of great 
delicacy indeed ; insomuch that I can scarcely, without some 
impropriety, touch upon it. In the first place, the event to 



29 



which you allude may never happen, among other reasons 
hecause, if the partiality of my fellow-citizens conceive it to 
be a mean by which the sinews of the new government would 
be strengthened, it will of consequence be obnoxious to those 
who are in opposition to it, many of whom, unquestionably, 
will be placed among the electors." — Vol. V. p. 138. 



LETTER TO DAVID STUART. 

New York, June 15, 1790. 

" Before the custom was established, which now accommo- 
dates foreign characters, strangers, and others who from mo- 
tives of curiosity, respect to the chief magistrate, or any other 
cause, are induced to call upon me, I was unable to attend to 
any business whatsoever. For gentlemen, consulting their own 
convenience rather than mine, were calling from the time I 
rose from breakfast, often before, until I sat down to dinner. 
This, as I resolved not to neglect my public duties, reduced 
me to the choice of one of these alternatives, either to refuse 
them altogether, or to appropriate a time for the reception of 
them. The first would, I well knew, be disgusting to many ; 
the latter, I expected, would undergo animadversion from 
those who would find fault with or without cause. To please 
every body was impossible. I therefore adopted that line of 
conduct which combined public advantage with private con- 
venience, and which in my judgment was unexceptionable in 
itself. That I have not been able to make bozvs to the taste of 

poor Colonel B (ivho^ by the by^ I believe never saw one of 

them) is to be regretted, especially too as, upon those occasions, 
they were indiscriminately bestowed, and the best I was master 
of. Would it not have been better to have thrown the veil of 
charity over them, ascribing their stiffness to the effects of age, 
or to the unsMlfidness of my teacher, than to p)ride and dig- 
nity of office, which Grod knows has no charms for me? For I 
can truly say, I had rather he at 3Iount Vernon tvith a friend 
or two about me, than to be attended at the seat of government 



30 



hy the officers of state and the representatives of every Power 
in Europe. 

" These visits are optional. Thej are made ■without invita- 
tion. Between the hours of three and four every Tuesday, 
I am prepared to receive them. Gentlemen, often in great 
numbers, come and go, chat with each other, and act as they 
please. A porter shows them into the room, and they retire 
from it when they choose, and without ceremony." — Vol. V. 
p. 165. 



Such was the practice of Judge Marshall in re- 
gard to omissions. But it should be observed, that 
the writer's train of thought, as to the points in- 
tended to be presented by the selections from any 
letter, is nowhere interrupted. The parts retained 
have a clear connection. It would have added 
nothing to the reader's instruction, if he had been 
informed at certain places, by a mark or other- 
wise, that passages were omitted. He might have 
gained more, if the whole letter in each case, in- 
stead of parts, had been printed ; but, as this was 
not consistent with the plan of the work, there 
seems no good reason why he should be told, that 
other parts were left out, which were irrelevant to 
the matter in hand. 

A letter frequently treats of topics totally dis- 
tinct from each other, and in this respect it is the 
same as a collection of letters written upon diifer- 
ent subjects. In such a letter, the omission of one 
or more topics has no effect upon the others, and 



31 



is the same in reality as the omission of a sepa- 
rate letter, which has no bearing upon the matter 
intended to be represented. When, for any reason, 
the train of the writer's ideas is suddenly broken 
off, or his meaning obscured, by the omission of a 
paragraph, sentence, or phrase, it certainly is essen- 
tial that the fact should be noted; but such is not 
the case in any of the above selections, and prob- 
ably not in any others comprised in the "Life of 
AVashington." 

The following selections are introduced for the 
purpose of a comparison between Judge Marshall's 
text and that of the Letter-Books. The italics in- 
dicate the discrepances. 

Judge Marshall's Text. Text of the Letter-Books. 

LETTER TO CONGRESS. 

Sept. 2d, 1776. 

" Great numbers of them " Great numbers of them 
have gone off, in some instan- have gone off, in some instan- 
ces almost by whole regi- ces almost by whole regi- 
ments, in many by half ones, ments, by half ones, and by 
and by companies at a time, companies at a time. This 
This circumstance of itself, circumstance of itself, inde- 
independent of others', when pendent of others, when front- 
fronted by a well-appointed ed by a well-appointed ene- 
enemy, superior in number my, superior in number to our 
to our whole collected force, whole collected force, would 
would be sufficiently disagree- be sufficiently disagreeable, 
able ; but when it is added but when their example has 
that their example has in- infected another part of the 



32 



Judge Marshall's Text. 

fected another part of the ar- 
my ; that their want of dis- 
cipline, and refusal of almost 
every kind of restraint and 
government, have rendered a 
like conduct but too common 
in the whole ; and have pro- 
duced an entire disregard of 
that order and subordination 
necessary for the well-doing 
of an army, and which had 
been before inculcated as well 
as the nature of our military 
establishment would admit, 
our condition is still more 
alarming." — Vol. II. p. 455. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

army, when their want of 
discipline, and refusal of al- 
most every kind of restraint 
and government, have pro- 
duced a like conduct but too 
common to the whole, and an 
entire disregard of that order 
and subordination necessary 
to the well-doing of an army, 
and which had been inculcat- 
ed before, as well as the na- 
ture of our military establish- 
ment would admit of, our 
condition is still more alarm- 
injn:." 



LETTER TO CONGRESS. 



" It is now extremely ob- 
vious from their movements, 
from our intelligence, and 
from every other circum- 
stance, that, having their 
whole army upon Long Isl- 
and, except about four thou- 
sand men ivho remain on Sta- 
ten Island, they mean to in- 
close us in this island by tak- 
ing post in our rear, Avhile 
their sMjjs effectually secure 
the front ; and thus, by cut- 
ting off our communication 
with the country, oblige us 



Sept. 8th, 1776. 

" It is now extremely ob- 
vious, from all intelligence, 
from their movements and 
every other circumstance, that 
having landed their whole ar- 
my on Long Island (except 
about four thousand on Sta- 
ten Island) they mean to in- 
close us on the Island of New 
York by taking post in our 
rear, while the shipping ef- 
fectually secures the front, and 
thus either by cutting off our 
communication with the coun- 
try, oblige us to fight them 



33 



Judge Marshall's Text. 

to fight them on their own 
terms, or surrender at discre- 
tion ; or, if that shall he 
deemed more advisable, by a 
briUiant stroke endeavor to 
cut this army to pieces, and 
secure the possession of arms 
and stores, which they well 
know our inahility to replace. 
" Having their system un- 
folded to us, it becomes an 
important consideration how 
it could be most successfully 
opposed. On every side there 
is a choice of difficulties, and 
experience teaches us, that 
every measure on our part 
(however painful the reflec- 
tion) must be taken with some 
apprehension, that all the 
troops will not do their duty." 
— Vol. II. p. 4G6. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

on their own terms, or sur- 
render at discretion, or by a 
brilliant stroke endeavor to 
cut this army in pieces and 
secure the collection of arms 
and stores, which they well 
know we shall not be soon 
able to replace. 

" Having therefore their 
system unfolded to us, it be- 
came an important considera- 
tion how it could be most suc- 
cessfully opposed. On every 
side there is a choice of diffi- 
culties, and every measure on 
our part (however painful the 
reflection is from experience') 
to be formed with some ap- 
prehension, that all our troops 
will not do their duty." 



LETTER TO GENERAL ARNOLD. 



" They might possibly be 
successful, but the probability 
would be infinitely against 
them. Should they be im- 
prudent enough to make the 
attempt, I shall keep close 
upon their heels, and ^oill do 
every thing in my power to 
make the project fatal to them. 
5 



June 17, 1777. 

" They might possibly be 
successful, but the probability 
would be infinitely against 
them. Should they be im- 
prudent enough to do it, I 
shall keep close upon their 
heels, and do every thing in 
my power to make tlie pro- 
ject fatal to them. 



34 



Judge Marshall's Text, 

" But, besides the argument 
in favor of their intending, 
in the first place, a stroke at 
this army, drawn from the 
pohcy of the measure, every 
appearance contributes to con- 
firm the opinion. Had tJieir 
design been for the Delaware 
in the first instance, they 
would probably have made a 
secret, rapid march for it, and 
not have halted so as to awa- 
ken our attention, and give us 
time to prepare for obstruct- 
ing them. Instead of that, 
they have only advanced to 
a position necessary to facili- 
tate an attack on our right, 
the part in which we are most 
exposed. In addition to this 
circumstance, they have come 
out as light as possible, leav- 
ing all their baggage, provis- 
ions, boats, and bridges at 
Brunswick. This plainly con- 
tradicts the idea of their in- 
tending to push for the Delar 
ware.'' — Vol. III. p. 112. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

" But, besides the argument 
for their intending, in the first 
place, a stroke at this army, 
drawn from the policy of the 
measure, every appearance co- 
incides to confirm the opinion. 
Had theg designed for the 
Delaware in the first instance, 
they would probably have 
made a secret, rapid march 
for it, and not halted, as they 
have done, to awaken our at- 
tention, and give us time to 
prepare for obstructing them. 
Instead of that, they have 
only advanced to a position 
necessary to facilitate an at- 
tack upon our right, which is 
the part they have the greatest 
likelihood of injuring us in ; 
and added to this considera- 
tion, they have come out as 
light as possible, leaving all 
their baggage, provisions, 
boats, and bridges at Bruns- 
wick ; tvhich plainly contra- 
dicts the idea for pushing for 
the Delaware.'' 



LETTER TO GENERAL SULLIVAN. 

Sept. 1st, 1778. 

" First impressions, you " First impressions, you 
know, are generally longest know, are generally longest 
retained, and will serve to fix, remembered, and will serve to 



35 



Judge Marshall's Text. 

in a great degree, our na- 
tional character with the 
French. In our conduct to- 
wards them, we should re- 
member, that they are a peo- 
ple old in war, very strict in 
miUtary etiquette, and apt to 
take fire when others scarcely 
seem warmed. Permit me to 
recommend, in the most par- 
ticular manner, the cultivation 
of harmony and good agree- 
ment, and your endeavors to 
destroy that ill humor which 
may have found its way among 
the officers. It is of the ut- 
most importance, too, that the 
soldiers and the people should 
know nothing of this misunder- 
standing, or, if it has reached 
them, that means may be 
used to stop its progress, and 
prevent its effects." — Vol. 
III. p. 517. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

fix, in a great degree, our na- 
tional character among the 
French. In our conduct to- 
wards them, we should remem- 
ber, that they are a people 
old in war, very strict in 
military etiquette, and apt to 
take fire, ivhere others scarce- 
ly seem warmed. Permit me 
to recommend, in the most 
particular manner, the culti- 
vation of harmony and good 
agreement, and your endeav- 
ors to destroy that ill humor 
which may have got into the 
officers. It is of the greatest 
importance, also, that the sol- 
diers and the people should 
know nothing of the misunder- 
standing, or, if it has reached 
them, that iva7js may be 
used to stop its progress, and 
prevent its effects." 



LETTER TO GENERAL GREENE. 



" I have not now time to 
take notice of the several ar- 
guments which were made use 
of, for and against the Count's 
quitting the harbor of New- 
port, and sailing for Boston. 
Right or wrong, it will proba- 



Sept. 1st, 1778. 

" I have not now time to 
take notice of the several ar- 
guments tlcat were made use 
of, for and against the Count's 
quitting the harbor of New- 
port, and sailing for Boston. 
Right or wrong, it will proba- 



36 



Judge Makshall's Text. 

bly disappoint our sanguine 
expectations of success ; and, 
which I deem a still worse con- 
sequence, I fear it will sow 
the seeds of dissension and 
distrust between us and our 
new allies, miless the most 
prudent measures he taken to 
suppress the feuds and jeal- 
ousies that have already aris- 
en. I depend much on your 
temper and influence to con- 
ciliate that animosity, which, I 
plainly perceive by a letter 
from the Marquis, subsists be- 
tween the American and 
French officers in our service. 
This, you may he assured, will 
extend itself to the Count, 
and the officers and men of 
his whole fleet, should they re- 
turn to Rhode Island, unless 
a reconciliation shall have tak- 
en place. The Marquis speaks 
kindly of a letter from you to 
him on this subject. He will 
therefore take any advice from 
you in a friendly way ; and, 
if he can be pacified, the oth- 
er French gentlemen will of 
course be satisfied, since they 
look up to him as their head." 
— Vol. III. p. 518. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

bly disappoint our sanguine 
expectations of success ; and, 
what I esteem a still worse con- 
sequence, I fear it will sow 
the seeds of dissension and 
distrust between us and our 
new allies, except the most 
prudent measures are taken 
to suppress the feuds and jeal- 
ousies that have already aris- 
en. I depend much upon your 
temper and influence to con- 
ciliate that animosity, which, I 
plainly perceive by a letter 
from the Marquis, subsists be- 
tween the American officers 
and the French in our service. 
This, you may depend, will 
extend itself to the Count, 
and the officers and men of 
his whole fleet, should they re- 
turn to Rhode Island ; except^ 
upon their arrival there, they 
find a reconciliation has taken 
place. The Marquis speaks 
kindly of a letter from you to 
him upon this subject. He 
will therefore take any advice 
coming from you in a friendly 
light, and, if he can be paci- 
fied, the other French gentle- 
men will of course be satisfied, 
as they look up to him as 
their head." 



37 



Judge Marshall's Text. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 



LETTER TO JACOB READ. 



" If either of these happen, 
there is a line of separation 
drawn between the eastern and 
western country at once, the 
consequences of which may be 
fatal. To tell any man of in- 
formation how fast the latter 
is settling, how much more 
rapidly it will settle by means 
of foreign emigrants who can 
have no particular predilection 
for us, of the vast fertility of 
the soil, of the pojmlation to 
which the country is competent, 
would be unnecessary ; and 
equally unnecessary would it 
be to observe, that it is by the 
cement of interest alone we 
can be held together. If, then, 
the trade of that country should 
flow through the Mississippi or 
the St. Lawrence ; if the in- 
habitants thereof should form 
commercial connections, which 
we know lead to intercourses 
of other kinds, they would in 
a few years be as unconnected 
•with us, as are those of South 
America. 

" It may be asked. How are 
we to prevent this ? Happily 
for us, the way is plain. Our 



Nov. 3d, 1784. 

" If either of these happen, 
there is a line of separation 
drawn between the eastern and 
western country at once, the 
consequences of which may be 
fatal. To tell any man of in- 
formation how fast the latter 
is settling, how much more 
rapidly it will settle by means 
of foreign emigrants who can 
have no particular predilection 
for us, of the vast fertility of 
the soil, and populatio7i the 
country is competent to, would 
be futile ; and equally nuga- 
tory to observe, that it is by 
the cement of interest alone we 
can be held together. If, then, 
the trade of that country should 
flow through the Mississippi or 
St. Lawrence ; if the inhabit- 
ants thereof should form com- 
mercial connections, which lead, 
ive know, to intercourses of oth- 
er kinds, they would in a few 
years be as unconnected with 
us, indeed more so, than we 
are with South America, and 
entirely alienated from us. 

" It may be asked how we 
are to prevent this. Happily 
for us, the way is plain, and 



38 



Judge Marshall's Text. 

immediate interests, as well 
as remote political advantages, 
point to it ; whilst a combina- 
tion of circumstances renders 
the present time more favora- 
ble than any other to accom- 
plish it. Extend the inland 
navigation of the eastern wa- 
ters ; communicate them as 
near as possible with those 
which run westward ; open 
these to the Ohio ; ojjen also 
such as extend from the Ohio 
towards Lake Erie ; and we 
shall not only draw the prod- 
uce of the western settlers, but 
the peltry and fur trade of the 
Lakes also, to our ports ; tJais 
adding an immense increase 
to our exports, and binding 
those people to us by a chain 
which never can be broken." 
— Vol. V. p. 16. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

our immediate interests, as 
well as remote political advan- 
tages, point to it ; whilst a com- 
bination of circumstances ren- 
ders the present epocha more 
favorable than any other to ac- 
complish them. Extend the in- 
land navigation of the eastern 
waters ; communicate them 
as near as possible with those 
which run to the westward ; 
open these to the Ohio ; and 
such others as extend from the 
Ohio towards Lake Erie ; and 
we shall not only draw the 
produce of the western settlers, 
but the peltry and fur trade of 
the Lakes also, to our ports, 
being the nearest and best, to 
the amazing increase of our 
exports, while we bind those 
people to us by a chain which 
never can be broken." 



LETTER TO BENJAMIN HARRISON. 



" How would this matter be 
viewed then by the eye of the 
world, and what opinion woidd 
be formed when it comes to 

be related, that G W n 

exerted himself to effect this 

work, and that G W n 

has received twenty thousand 



Jan. 22c1, 1785. 

" How would this matter be 
viewed then by the eye of the 
world, and tvhat tvould be the 
opinion of it when it comes to 

be related, that G W n 

exerted himself to efifect this 
work, and G. W. has received 
twenty thousand dollars, and 



39 



Judge Marshall's Text. 

dollars and five thousand 
pounds sterling of the public 
money as an interest therein ? 
Would not this (if I am entitled 
to any merit for the part I 
have 'performed^ and without 
it there is no foundation for 
the act) deprive me of the 
principal thing which is lauda- 
ble in mj conduct ? Would it 
not in some respects be con- 
sidered in the same light as a 
pension ? And would not the 
apprehension of this induce me 
to offer my sentiments in fw- 
ture with the more reluctance f 
In a word, under whatever 
pretence, and however custom- 
ary these gratuities may he in 
other countries, should I not 
thenceforward be considered as 
a dependent?"— Vol. V. p. 21. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

five thousand pounds sterling 
of the public money as an in- 
terest therein ? Would not this, 
in the estimation of it (if I am 
entitled to any merit for the 
part I have acted; and without 
it there is no foundation for 
the act) deprive me of the 
principal thing which is lauda- 
ble in my conduct ? Would it 
not in some respects be con- 
sidered in the same light as a 
pension ? And would not the 
apprehension of this make me 
more reluctantly offer my senti- 
ments in future ? In a word, 
under whatever pretence, and 
however customary these gra- 
tuitous gifts are made in other 
countries, should I not thence- 
forward be considered as a 
dependent ? " 



LETTER TO JOHN JAY. 



" But, fortunately, they have 
precipitated a crisis for which 
they were not prepared ; and 
thereby have unfolded views 
which will, I trust, effect their 
annihilation sooner than it 
might have happened. An 
occasion has also been afforded 
for the people of this country 



Nov. 1, 1794. 

" But, fortunately, they pre- 
cipitated a crisis for which they 
were not prepared ; and there- 
by have unfolded views which 
will, I trust, effectuate their 
annihilation sooner than it 
might othenvise have happen- 
ed ; at the same time that it 
has afforded an occasion for 



40 



Judge Marshall's Text. 

to show their abhorrence of 
the result, and their attach- 
ment to the constitution and 
the laws ; for I believe that 
five times the number of mili- 
tia, that ivere required, would 
have come forward in sujjport 
of them, had it been neces- 
sary. 

" The spirit which blazed 
out on this occasion, as soon 
as the object was fullj under- 
stood, and the lenient meas- 
ures of the government were 
made known to the people, de- 
serves to be communicated. 
There are instances of general 
oiBcers going at the head of a 
single troop, or of light com- 
panies ; of field ofiicers, when 
they came to the place of ren- 
dezvous and found no com- 
mand for them in that grade, 
turning into the ranks and 
serving as private soldiers un- 
der their own captains ; and 
of numbers possessing the first 
fortunes in the country, stand- 
ing in the ranks as private 
men, and, hy way of example 
to others, marching day by day 
with their knapsacks at their 
backs, and sleeping on straw 
with a single blanket, in a sol- 
dier's tent, during the frosty 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

the people of this country to 
show their abhorrence of the 
result, and their attachment to 
the constitution and the laws ; 
for I believe that five times 
the number of mihtia, that tvas 
required, would have come 
forward, if it had been neces- 
sary, in support of them. 

" The spirit which blazed 
out on this occasion, as soon 
as the object was fully under- 
stood, and the lenient meas- 
ures of the government were 
made known to the people, de- 
serves to be communicated ; 
for there are instances of gen- 
eral officers going at the head 
of a single troop, ayid of light 
companies ; of field officers, 
when they came to the place 
of rendezvous and found no 
command for them in that 
grade, turning into the ranks 
and proceeding as private sol- 
diers under their own captains ; 
and of numbers possessing the 
first fortunes in the country, 
standing in the ranks as pri- 
vate [men, and marching day 
by day with their knapsacks 
and haversacks at their backs ; 
sleeping on straw with a single 
blanket, in a soldier's tent, 
during the frosty nights which 



41 



Judge Marshall's Text. 

nights -wliich we have had. 
Nay, more ; many young Qua- 
kers of the first family, char- 
acter, and property, not dis- 
couraged hy the elders, have 
turned into the ranks, and are 
marching with the troops." — 
Vol. V. p. 593. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

we have had, hy way of exam- 
ple to others. Nay, more ; 
many young Quakers, not dis- 
couraged hy the elders, of the 
first families, character, and 
property, having turned into 
the ranks, and are marching 
with the troops." 



LETTER TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



" But, my dear Sir, dark as 
matters appear at present, and 
expedient as it is to be pre- 
pared for the worst that can 
happen, (and no man is more 
disposed to this measure than 
I am,) I cannot make up my 
mind yet for the expectation 
of open war ; or, in other 
words, for a formidable inva- 
sion by France. I cannot be- 
lieve, although I think her ca- 
pable of any thing, that she 
will attempt to do more than 
she has done. When she per- 
ceives the spirit and policy of 
this country rising into resist- 
ance, and that she has falsely 
calculated upon support from 
a large part of the people to 
promote her views and influ- 
ence in it, she will desist even 
from those practices, unless 
6 



May 27th, 1798. 

" But, my dear Sir, dark as 
matters appear at present, and 
expedient as it is to be pre- 
pared at all points for the 
worst that can happen, (and 
no one is more disposed to this 
measure than I am,) I cannot 
make up my mind yet for the 
expectation of open war ; or, 
in other words, for a formida- 
ble invasion by France. I 
cannot believe, although I 
think them capable of any 
thing had, thafe they will at- 
tempt to do more than they 
have done, that when they per- 
ceive the spirit and policy of 
this country rising into resist- 
ance, and that they have falsely 
calculated upon support from 
a large part of the people there- 
of to promote their views and 
influence in it, that they will 



42 



Judge Marshall's Text. 

unexpected events in Europe, 
or the acquisition of Louisi- 
ana and the Floridas, should 
induce her to continue them. 
And I believe further, that 
although the leaders of their 
party in this country will not 
change their sentiments, they 
■vvill be obliged to change their 
plan, or the mode of carrying 
it on. The effervescence which 
is appearing in all quarters, 
and the desertion of their fol- 
lowers, will frown them into 
silence, at least for a while." 
— Vol. V. p. 747. 



Text of the Letter-Books. 

desist even from those prac- 
tices, unless unexpected events 
in Europe, or their possession 
of Louisiana and the Floridas, 
should induce them to continue 
the measure. And I believe 
further, that although the lead- 
ers of their party in this coun- 
try will not change their senti- 
ments, that they will be obhged 
nevertheless to change their 
plan, or the mode of carrying 
it on, from, the effervescence 
which is appearing in all quar- 
ters, and from the desertion 
of their followers, which must 
frown them into silence, at 
least for a while." 



If Judge Marshall copied from the Letter-Books, 
as he undoubtedly did, since they were all in his 
charge while he was writing the " Life of Wash- 
ington," it is seen that he made frequent changes 
in the phraseology, and verbal corrections in the 
style. If the originals were in his possession, and 
he copied from them, which is highly improbable, 
the comparison of the two texts shows the differ- 
ences between the originals and the Letter-Books. 
These specimens are not selected as being peculiar. 
If the examination were continued, it would be 
found that he adopted a similar practice in the 



43 



other parts of Washington's letters, which he in- 
corporated into his work. The extracts are inva- 
riably included within quotation marks, so that 
the reader can at once discover where they occur, 
and any one may pursue the comparison by con- 
sulting the Letter-Books. 

In the preceding remarks, it has not been my 
object to question the propriety of the general plan 
of Mr. Reed's publication. I have only endeavored 
to remove what I could not but feel to be an 
erroneous impression, as bearing upon myself, con- 
veyed by the manner in which some parts of his 
performance have been executed. 

Cambridge, April 20th, 1853. 



m 










■.--^'rmsimi 






